question about resolution for jewelry

[Caravaggio]

I have a job retouching some jewelry. The jewelry is going both to the web and to print. The files were delivered to me as tifs with a resolution of 300. My question is whether I should change the resolution in image size to a higher resolution with resample unchecked so the jewelry is say 600 ppi? Is there any advantage to this? The jewelry is fairly small in proportion to the background so the images are all going to be cropped.

I guess my question is really what ppi is normally delivered to the client for jewelry print jobs?

Thanks for your help.

[Caravaggio]

Re: question about resolution for jewelry

OK. I just found out from the client that they are being printed on an inkjet printer for the time being. Pardon my ignorance but can inkjet printers print at more than 300 ppi? Still the client says that the files may eventually go to a commercial printer when she has the budget. What ppi do you think it is best for me to make the files? Thanks.

[kav]

Re: question about resolution for jewelry

I wouldn't worry about messing with dpi unless they gave you specs. You can always voice your concern regarding how large they will be reproduced, but you have no way of knowing the variety of ways these things might be reproduced.

[Caravaggio]

Re: question about resolution for jewelry

Thanks Kav. Well what gave me the idea that I should maybe change the ppi is how tiny the rings and earrings look on the page.

[kav]

Re: question about resolution for jewelry

I understand your concern more than your course of action. If you think they're too small to be appropriate for whatever end uses your client has in mind, you might raise this concern. Just resizing them isn't really going to add more detail. You can try it and see how it looks, as it does vary somewhat. Either way my concern would be that your client understands how much resolution and detail is there and how large they can be effectively reproduced after cropping. As far as inkjet printers are concerned, their stated ppi differs. 300 dpi is a pretty standard input resolution, but of course you have to look at dimensions at 300 dpi. I have received bad files myself. I'm sometimes amazed by how bad.

[Repairman]

Re: question about resolution for jewelry

300dpi is plenty for most commercial applications. Your image will only be as good as the output device can manage, irrespective of the rez of your file; imagine 3 of your pixels making just one printing dot. You can give it a hand though - IMO sharpness/contrast are bigger factor's than rez per se. As it's jewellery, you can kiss goodbye to the subtle tones - aim for clarity of shape and if you can get the size bumped up, that can only help.

[girlsfather]

Re: question about resolution for jewelry

OK. I just found out from the client that they are being printed on an inkjet printer for the time being. Pardon my ignorance but can inkjet printers print at more than 300 ppi? Still the client says that the files may eventually go to a commercial printer when she has the budget. What ppi do you think it is best for me to make the files? Thanks.

Epson printers like the 4800 have a native resolution of 360 dpi.
(Using the 8 colors of the 4800 resulting in 2880 dpi max resolution.)
When printing a file with a resolution of 300 ppi, the epson printer driver would resample the picture. I had fine diagonal lines being broken to steps. That went away by printing a version of the file with 360 ppi.

Maybe other software does a better job - but even for my contractproofs with GMG software on Epson I use 360 ppi for the files.

There are several discussions about the best resolution for inkjet output.

I would not change the pixelsize of the file.
The only reason would be if I was asked to, or if I knew before, that the final output size is bigger than the filesize.
Preferably I do that when developping the RAW (10-30%, depending on the RAW converter).
In Photoshop,I would do it in steps of 10-15% (which gives the same result than using zoomify, which is more comfortable as you apply it only once)

[Caravaggio]

Re: question about resolution for jewelry

Thank you Kav, Repairman and girlsfather. All very helpful advice. I am going to just leave the files at 300 ppi for now and add contrast and sharpness. If I have to upsize I will do in in steps of 10% but am hoping that won't be necessary.